This book is a critical revision on innovation in urban planning. In Italy, practices of spatial planning and urban development have undergone significant transformation in recent decades, especially the 1990s, despite the continuing influence of more traditional models and attitudes. A revision seems necessary for the country's modernization, but this process does not yet seem complete and the results appear uncertain. There has been a proliferation of new experiments, but they do not always represent real innovations capable of guaranteeing quality and efficacy. Critical reference to certain great Italian traditions may help to clarify the meaning and value offered by the most recent experiences.